Showing 18 results

Papers concerning American theatre and opera scrapbooks, 1875-1892, comprise to scrapbooks containing programmes of plays, concerts and operas performed in the USA, with particular reference to New York and the Metropolitan Opera House, from 1875 to 1892. MS1088/2 includes postcards of members of singers performing in the Metropolitan Opera 1890 to 1891 season, posing in some of their operatic roles. The volumes contained two loose inserts, which have now become MS1088/3 and MS1088/4.

Papers of Vincenzo Bellini, comprise a manuscript musical score, excerpt from the opera 'Beatrice di Tenda' (1833) by Vincenzo Bellini; copy, in unidentified hand, entitled 'Romanza, Ah! non pensar, nell' Opera Beatrice di Tenda'.

Biographical scrapbook, compiled by Cecil Frederick Crofton, including the following: correspondence, cuttings, watercolours and exam papers from Crofton's time at Forest School, near Snaresbrook, including cuttings of poems and articles by Crofton in the school magazine, exam papers, watercolours and illustrations of areas surrounding the school and correspondence with the headmaster regarding fees and attendance, 1874-1876; playbills, cuttings, posters, programmes and illustrations from a majority of Crofton's performances both as an opera singer and actor, both amateur and professional, also including dinner and engagement cards and illustrations and small watercolours by Crofton of theatrical scenes and fellow performers, 1877-1913; Cuttings and illustrations regarding the funeral of the Duke of Devonshire, 1908; correspondence, cuttings and illustrations regarding Sir Nevil Macready, 1919.

A manuscript fair copy of the opera Gabriella Di Vergy, c 1825-1845, with passages written in the hand of the composer, Gaetano Donizetti.

Eight autographed letters by Jerrold ([1843-1856]), play bills including for "Rent Day" and "Mrs Caudle", 1845. Research files, correspondence relating to Professor Michael Slater's book Douglas Jerrold : 1803-1857 [London : Duckworth, 2002]. Includes a card index of Jerrold's plays, research file on the play "Black-Eyed Susan". "Douglas Jerrold's Weekly Newspaper", 1847 January-August.

Correspondence to and from Florence Farr, photographs of Florence Farr, reviews of Modern Women, flyers of plays, performance programmes. There are photographs, some signed, showing her in acting roles and in her time in Ceylon. Amongst the remaining items there are performance programmes and posters.

Letters from Cecil Scott Forester of Longton Avenue, London, SE26, to G F Troup Horne, 3 Dec 1932 - 4 Jul 1933. Mainly relating to Forester's play 'U97' which Troup Horne produced at Birkbeck College in February 1933.

All letters autograph, with signatures.

The papers of Garrick Club comprise one volume containing playbills for the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden between 28 September 1825 and 23 June 1826 with occasional notices of cast changes.

The Grieve collection comprises: 655 original scene designs (and 3 folders of slides), including panoramas and perspective 'cut-outs' in watercolours and wash by members of the Grieve family, covering performances of various revival productions of Shakespeare plays, along with works by Isaac Pocock, M.R.Lacy, Thomas Otway, Michael Costa, Samuel Beazley, Douglas Jerrold, G.Meyerbeer, Charles A.Somerset, Edward Fitzball, Rossini and others, staged at the Theatre Royal (Drury Lane), the Theatre Royal (Covent Garden) and Her Majesty's Theatre, 1813-1857.

Letters from Charles Kean to Thomas Grieve senior, 1850s; marriage certificates for Thomas Grieve senior to Livinia Ann Bailey, 1827, and to Elizabeth Goatley, 1835; marriage certificate of Thomas Walford Grieve to Hester Chalk, 1884; photograph of Elizabeth Grieve; passport of Thomas Walford Grieve, 1870; bills regarding the grave of Thomas Walford Grieve and the burial of Graham Walford Grieve, 1920.

Collection of material relating to the dramatist Henry Arthur Jones (1851-1929), collected by M.H.Spielmann, including: Five letters from Henry Arthur Jones to the Morning Post newspaper concerning the reconstruction of the theatre (1919); correspondence with James Stanley Little (1922-1929); correspondence between Jones and M.H.Spielmann (1919-1929); correspondence between Doris Thorne (nee Arthur Jones) and M.H.Spielmann (1929-1939); publications and proofs of works by H.A.Jones (1897-1921); press cuttings concerning miscellaneous topics connected to H.A.Jones, including reviews of books and plays and cuttings concerning his disputes with George Bernard Shaw and H.G.Wells (1887-1950).

Papers of John Masefield, 1907-1971. Manuscripts 951 and 952 contain photographs of Masefield, Mrs Ethel Stockdale Ross, theatre productions and HMS Conway (?). B/W and colour photographs and negatives. Manuscript 953 contains watercolours and one ink drawing by Masefield. Manuscript 966 contains a watercolour, 'The Dalgoner', 1920s.

Theatrical columns of "The Referee", 1903-1909, and "The Curtain", 1922-1933; notebooks with lists of plays Morley acted in, c1904-1964; notebooks on plays seen, 1955-1966; articles by Morley, c1925-1965; London play diaries, 1932-1964; "Historical and Descriptive Accounts of Theatres of London" by Edward Wedlake Brayley, 1833; correspondence regarding publication of a manuscript by Morley, 1984-1986; scrapbook of productions in Canada, 1947-1950; minutes of Everyman Theatre Guild Limited, 1929-1931; autobiographical drafts and correspondence, 1913-1972; typescript plays by Alexander Ostrovsky, Nella Nagra, Etienne Rey, Alfred Savoir, August Strindberg, Franz Werfel, Herman Voaden, Astrid Arygll, Alice Gerstenberg, Sacha Guitry, Bjornson, Karen Bramson, Henri Gheon (undated).

Manuscript operetta in several hands, perhaps including that of the author, Patrick Robertson, entitled 'La festa d'overgroghi, operetta seria comica, in due atti...parole inglesi-italiane dal Signor Coccalicchi. Rappresentata nella Casa Skenea, Edinburgo, Marzio 1832', and containing instructions to the printer. The manuscript is bound with a printed copy of Nugae Legales (according to the half-title only), containing the printed operetta and some other items. The printed version is fuller than the manuscript, and the leaves are laid down to the size of the manuscript leaves.

A score of one of Perez's operas, mid 18th century, Didone Abbandonata (Didone in Salveterra).

Two notebooks containing notes and newspaper cuttings concerning Purdon's production of As You like It, 1949 and Macbeth in 1951.

A contract to publish music from the opera Macbeth, 1847.

(1) Postcard from Thomas James Wise of Heath Drive, Hampstead, London to [Stewart Marsh] Ellis of Kent Gardens, Kew, Surrey, 18 Sep 1931. 'I should like to be identified as a descendant of the Wises who published some of the Shakespeare Quartos!'.
(2) Letter from Mrs Frances Louise Wise of Heath Drive, Hampstead, London to [Stewart Marsh] Ellis of Kent Gardens, Kew, Surrey, 31 Aug 1932. Arranging a meeting at the theatre. 'Tom is still improving, he hobbled into the library yesterday ...'. Autograph, with signature.